Can Babies Drink Cold Formula?

If you've ever stood at the kitchen counter at 3 a.m. with your baby wailing while the bottle takes its sweet time warming up, you know how a few minutes can feel like an hour. Warming formula is one of those routines most parents assume they have to do, but it may be a step you can skip. Yes, healthy babies can drink formula straight from the fridge; it does not need to be warmed before feeding. In fact, cold formula might even feel soothing on a teething baby's gums.

For healthy, full-term babies, whether you warm your baby's formula is more about comfort than safety. Some babies may just prefer it warmed up over cold, especially if they are used to breastfeeding, where the milk is delivered at the mom's body temperature. That said, premature babies may do better with formula warmed, as some studies have found that their stomachs may tolerate it better than cold. However, you should always check with your healthcare provider about what is best for your baby, considering warming formula can lead to unnecessary risks. An article published in the British Medical Journal detailed several cases of infants being injured by scalding hot water used to heat bottles.

A baby who spits up a lot may leave you wondering whether that cold bottle is the culprit. However, there's no direct evidence linking cold formula to reflux. Spit-up happens because the muscle between a baby's esophagus and stomach is still immature. Babies may swallow air or take in more than their tummies can comfortably hold.

If your baby is used to body-temperature breast-feeding or warm formula, they may refuse the bottle or drink less than usual. If this is the case, you may need to add some extra warming time back into your routine. But you should never use a microwave to warm the formula in hopes of shortening your heating time. It can heat the liquid unevenly and leave hot spots that burn your baby's throat and mouth. Instead, it's best to place the sealed bottle in a bowl of warm water until the preferred temperature. (Don't use boiling water or you'll risk becoming one of the cases outlined in the British Medical Journal article.)

If you decide to introduce cold formula, it may go more smoothly if you transition slowly. For instance, start with lukewarm formula and then lower the temperature at each feeding. If you're hoping cold formula means you can stock up your fridge, generally, prepared formula shouldn't sit in the fridge for more than a day, but make sure to always follow your formula's preparation instructions.